Short silk fiber‐reinforced polychloroprene rubber composites

The reinforcement of polychloroprene rubber by short silk fiber has been studied in the presence of three different dry bonding systems, viz.: (a) “cohedur RK–cohedur A–silica”; (b) “cohedur RK–cohedur A–carbon black”; (c) “resorcinol–hexamethylenetetramine–silica.” The degree of fiber–rubber adhesion of the different bonding systems follows the order (a) > (b) > (c). Scanning electron microscopy studies of tensile, tear, abrasion, and flex failed surfaces of both unfilled and fiber–filled composites containing “cohedur–silica” bonding system have also been made in order to gain an insight to the mechanism of failure.